[A2k] USTR to FT: ACTA negotiations "far from secret"

[James Love]

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/27dc0fd6-1147-11df-a6d6-00144feab49a.html?nclick_=
check=3D1

Piracy campaign is far from secret
Published: February 4 2010 02:00 | Last updated: February 4 2010 02:00

>From Mr Stanford McCoy.

Sir, The article =E2=80=9CSecret deal aims to scuttle internet pirates=E2=
=80=9D (January
29) missed the point of ongoing negotiations towards an
Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA).

Intellectual property protection is critical to jobs and exports that
depend on innovation and creativity. Trade in counterfeit and pirated
products undermines those jobs and exports, exposes consumers to
dangerous knock-offs from toothpaste to car parts, and helps fund
organised crime.

The ACTA negotiations are one of many international efforts to fight
counterfeiting and piracy =E2=80=93 not to =E2=80=9Ctransform=E2=80=9D alre=
ady strong US and
European Union copyright laws. Far from keeping them secret, governments
participating in these negotiations have sought public comments,
released a summary of issues under discussion, and enhanced public
engagement.

Among other things, the summary states clearly that =E2=80=9CACTA is not
intended to interfere with a signatory=E2=80=99s ability to respect its
citizens' fundamental rights and civil liberties=E2=80=9D.

The office of the US trade representative has posted ACTA information
online at www.ustr.gov/acta. The site includes meeting agendas and links
to help the public understand the US approach to key provisions, which
is consistent with US law. Other partners have made their own
information available about this important work to protect consumers and
intellectual property worldwide.

Stanford McCoy,
Assistant United States Trade Representative for Intellectual Property
and Innovation




--
James Love, Director, Knowledge Ecology International
http://www.keionline.org | http://www.twitter.com/jamie_love
Wk: +1.202.332.2670 | US Mobile +1.202.361.3040 | Geneva Mobile +41.76.413.=
6584